Oddbean

**Why would I ever go back to legacy media from #Nostr?** It's a fair question, especially considering I deleted my other accounts three years ago and stopped posting to Mastodon two years ago. I lost tens of thousands of followers in the process, but it's been my main mission for the past two years to #grownostr. That said, it's valid to also have accounts on legacy social media for other purposes like business, wide reach, etc. If you want to have influence and connect with the masses, it's wise to run your own website and meet people where they are. Nostr is a beautiful and important thing, but it's still a work in progress and growing. The user base here is still very small comparatively. As a consultant, agent, or business owner, it would be unreasonable in most cases to advise using #Nostr only unless that business, person, or organization already had a mass following willing to follow them over, was super niche, building a nostr service or client, and/or was at great risk of being cancelled. **Let's break down the key considerations:** 1. **Censorship Resistance vs. Privacy** Nostr offers unparalleled censorship resistance. Users don't have to worry about being "cancelled" or losing their account. However, it's crucial to understand that Nostr is not private. Once a note is posted to the relay network, it's public by default. You can only request edits or deletions, but there's no guarantee relays will comply. Privacy and anti-censorship are two different things, and Nostr prioritizes the latter. 2. **Payment Integration** Nostr has a payment platform built-in, allowing for sending and receiving coin. This cuts out many middlemen and offers a way to get paid directly for your content. It's a significant advantage over legacy platforms that often take a cut or impose restrictions on monetization. 3. **Audience Reach and Growth Stages** For example, if you had a band, you'd want your music to reach the most people possible. It's the same with most products and services. It depends on where you enter the marketplace: - **Start small:** Small gigs, small crowds, build your fanbase. Pay for everything yourself. - **Growth stage:** When you hit the ceiling as your popularity grows, it might be valid to sign with a label. You'll lose some creative control, but gain access to resources for recording, marketing, and distribution. - **Established success:** Found your own label or platform, leveraging your established fanbase. 4. **Business Strategy Examples** - **Yoga studio** = Advertise locally as a priority. - **Yoga Author** = Advertise globally on the largest platforms for the widest reach and influence. - **Podcast** = Stay indie, get wide distribution. Be on Apple, Google, wherever people get podcasts. 5. **Content Control and Persistence** - **Nostr:** Content persists across relays, making it censorship-resistant but also difficult to completely remove or have absolute control over your content. - **Legacy Social Media:** Allows content deletion, but platforms may retain copies and can cancel your account at any time. - **Personal Website:** Offers ultimate control with the right hosting provider. 6. **Platform Diversification** It's often wise to diversify your online presence: - **Use Nostr** as your primary platform for authentic, uncensored content. - **Maintain legacy social media accounts** for wider reach and audience engagement. - **Center everything around your own website** for maximum control and SEO benefits. Look, Nostr's been my main gig for 2 years now, and if you want the real, unfiltered me, this is where you'll find it. But let's be real - there's a solid case for keeping a foot in both worlds. **Here's the deal:** - **Nostr** is your go-to for speaking your mind without fear of censorship. Plus, that built-in #Bitcoin payment system? It's a game-changer for creators. - **Legacy platforms?** They've still got the numbers. If you're trying to reach the masses, you can't ignore them completely. - **Your own website** is your digital home base. It's where you call the shots, no questions asked. **The smart play?** Use each platform for what it's good at. Nostr for the real talk and direct supporter engagement. Legacy social for casting a wide net. Your website to tie it all together. As Nostr grows, yeah, we'll probably shift more focus here. But for now, especially if you're running a business or building a brand, you've got to fish where the fish are, you know? **Bottom line:** Nostr is where I live online. It's where I'm most me. But I'm not blind to the reality of today's digital world. Sometimes you've got to play the game to change the game. Just make sure you're calling the plays, not the other way around. #ikitao #business #marketing